Iran marks anniversary of failed US rescue attempt

Hundreds of Iranians have marked the 30th anniversary of a failed U.S. military operation to rescue American hostages held in Tehran.

The 1980 rescue attempt — called Operation Eagle Claw — turned into a major embarassment for Washington when a U.S. helicopter collided with a transport plane at a desert landing spot during a sandstorm. Eight American servicemen were killed.

Hundreds of Iranians, many of them members of the paramilitary Basij volunteers, prayed and gave thanks at the crash site Sunday.